DATE: TUESDAY, MARCH 21

LOCATION: Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center
1 Federal Street, Springfield

TIME: 5 - 8 p.m.

FOOD: Snacks will be provided

COST: $5

The Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (MSBDC), Hidden-Tech
and the Technology Enterprise Council (TEC) are teaming up to provide
regional businesses with the tips and advice they need to grow a micro
business in the new economy.

From finances to marketing, business plans to tech support, a wide array
of experts will be on hand from 5 to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 21st at the
Andrew M. Scibelli Enterprise Center, 1 Federal Street in Springfield, to
answer individual business questions. There will be a time for networking,
a short introductory presentation and then the evening is open for
attendees to meet with the professionals who can assist with individual
concerns

What sets this fair apart from so many others is that many of the topics
represent the shift from a bricks and mortar-type of business to a new
Web-based economy. There are experts to discuss remote marketing and sales,
blogging and radio/podcasts as marketing tools, writing to build
credibility, and the technology required to run a virtual business (a micro
business that is backed by technology).

This is the first time that the Massdachusetts Small Business Development
Center Network, Hidden-Tech (a 1,400-person virtual company networking
organization) and the Technology Enterprise Council (a network within the
Regional Technology Corporation) have teamed up to put on a joint program.
Experts are drawn from all three groups.

For more information please call Amy Zuckerman at 413.253.4124 or Diane
Randall at 413.737.6712 x 100.

AGENDA
5 - 6 p.m. - Networking
6:10 p.m. - Introduction of experts in the 2nd floor lobby
6:20 - 8 p.m. - Information gathering on the 2nd and 3rd floors

THE EXPERTS
tapped to assist you

Blogging as a PR/Marketing Tool - Tish Grier, blogger and consultant

Career Life Planning and Coaching: Structuring Life as a Solopreneur -
Barbara Reinhold, former director of Career and Executive Development,
Smith College

Cash Flow - Allen B. Kronick, Senior Management Counselor, Western
Massachusetts Regional Office, MSBDC Network

Getting Training Dollars That Pay Off: Workforce Development Grants
- Susan Bellows, senior director, The Pucino Group

Marketing- Susan Mongue, Senior Management Counselor, Berkshire County
Office, MSBDC Network

Strategic Planning - Dianne Doherty, Regional Director, Western
Massachusetts Regional Office, MSBDC Network

Hiring/Recruiting - Jon Reed, principle, Vice President, SAPtips

Prospecting, Cold Calls and Sales, Oh My! - Sheldon Snodgrass, principle,
The Steady Sales Group

Remote Marketing and PR (Doing it all from a distance) - Amy Zuckerman,
principle, A - Z International Associates and Hidden-Tech founder/co-chair

Running Virtual (Techniques and Technologies of Being a Virtual Company) -
Rich Roth, principle, TnR Global and Hidden-Tech Webmaster

"Sound" PR and Marketing (Utilizing Podcasts and Radio to Convey Your
Message) - Lynn Turner, founder and host, Business Link Radio

Intro to Government Contracting - Grace Otta, Procurement Analyst, MSBDC
Network/Pocurement Technical Assistance Center

Tips from Tech Support - Jef Sharp, co-founder, TechCalvary and TEC chairman

Web Site Design and Development - Silvana Gravini, principle of Silvana.net

Writing to Build Credibility - Claudia Gere, principle of Claudia Gere,
principle, Claudia Gere Co.

DIRECTIONS to STCC Technology Park/ Scibelli Enterprise Center

One Federal Street, Springfield, MA 01105
413.747.2525 (security)
<http://techpark.stcc.edu>techpark.stcc.edu

From the Massachusetts Turnpike:

Take Exit 6, Springfield.
Turn left at the end of ramp at traffic light on to Route 291 (West). Take
the Armory Street Exit. Go around the rotary three quarters of the way and
take Armory Street going south. Stay on Armory Street and at your third
traffic light, turn right on to Taylor Street. Take your first left on to
Federal Street. Go through one traffic light and you will approach the STCC
Technology Park on your left within 2 blocks. The main entrance to the STCC
Technology Park is on your left. Proceed through entrance to Security
building. (The College is across the street from the Tech Park.)

From Route 91 going south:

Follow Hartford signs to Exit 7, Springfield Center and exit right. Go
straight at lights. At next light, turn left under the highway on to State
Street. Continue up State Street to Federal Street (at top of hill...Burger
King on right). At the traffic light at the top of hill, turn left on to
Federal Street. Take your first right into the main entrance of the STCC
Technology Park and stop at Security building.

From Route 91 going north:

Take Exit 4, Broad Street.
Follow East Columbus Avenue to the third traffic light and turn right on to
State Street. Continue up State Street to Federal Street (at top of
hill...Burger King on right). At the traffic light at the top of hill, turn
left on to Federal Street. Take your first right into the main entrance of
the STCC Technology Park and stop at Security building.